YOUNG men plying teenagers with alcohol are at the root of an anti-social behaviour hotspot in Frodsham, according to police.

They are warning parents to keep an eye on their children in the wake of what they call a gang of 'perverse role models' aged between 18 and 20 preying on younger teenagers.

Their action follows complaints from residents and businesses around Eddisbury Square about young people drinking, using abusive language and kicking footballs against their windows.

Residents and businesses are fighting back by helping the police gather evidence of anti-social incidents in logbooks distributed by the Community Action Team (CAT).

The latest complaints concern more than 30 youths in the square a fortnight ago.

Sergeant Pete Minghella, of the Frodsham CAT, said: 'We know the majority are youths under the age of 16, quite law-abiding and quite capable of entertaining themselves. What seems to be happening is that there is a group of about 10 young male adults - aged 18-20 - who seem to take pleasure from the attention they get from these youths.

'There are reports that they are plying them with drink, which concerns us, and I want parents to be aware if they can smell drink when they come in to let us know.'

Sgt Minghella said he had received 'numerous complaints' from businesses and residents in the square about anti-social behaviour, mainly in the evenings, from Thursdays to Sundays.

'It is because of the way the place is set up,' he said. 'You can access it from many points - from the side, the back, the front. It's fair to say that the local residents and the businesses there are fed up with it and we want them to know we won't tolerate it anymore. We want to get a grip on it before the longer nights and the hot weather approach.'

Sgt Minghella has delivered logbooks to residents and businesses and asked them to fill in details of incidents, when they happen and who is involved to help the police bring anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) against the culprits.

Sgt Minghella said: 'As kids, we all played out, but when you are sat in your own home and these youths are consistently kicking against their wall up to about 9.30pm it's driving people to distraction.

'It's only a matter of time before it escalates and it will if it goes unchallenged.'

He added: 'They are young male adults who are the main antagonists here. Unfortunately, they are ending up as perverse role models.

'We're concerned because do parents know where their kids are when they let them out at night? The last thing I want is for their only contact with the police to be when we bring their drunken boy or girl home to them.'

Borough and town councillor Nigel Griffiths said a crime survey carried out by the Vale Royal Lib-Dems of 780 homes in Frod-sham in December highlighted the problem.

'One of the main areas where people felt concerned - not just at night but even in early evening - was Eddisbury Square,' he said.

'They felt intimidated by youths hanging around there. Now I don't believe that anyone was actually attacked or approached by those youngsters, but people felt nervous when they went to pick up a video or went to the off-licence.'